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All Ireland Schools Finals

The All Ireland Primary and Secondary Schools finals are taking pkace on Thursday 2nd of May 2019. The closing date for applications is Thursday 18th of April 2019 for the winners of the various age categories within their provinces. Applications should be posted to Table Tennis Ireland, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 or emailed to [email protected]

Primary School application HERE

Secondary School application HERE  

Payment can be made by cheque to “Table Tennis Ireland” or by bank transfer (click HERE for bank details)

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Leinster and Ulster share the Shields in Belfield

A changed format for this year saw a combined Interprovincial Championships, with the Junior and Senior events merged onto one weekend in a central venue. Saturday saw a busy day of Senior action, with Leinster and Ulster expected to be the main protagonists in all three categories, Veteran, Senior and U21.

With Connacht choosing not to put out a team in the U21 category, the title was tied up after two sessions, as Leinster, backboned by Conor Gallagher and Katie McGlone, despite conceding two points due to a missing player, got off to a strong start against Ulster, winning out 6-4.  This was followed up with an 8-2 win over Munster in Round 2, with Ulster, with an unbeaten Matthew Cherry, winning out 6-1 against Munster in the final round to confirm the 1-2-3 placing.

In the Veterans event, hot favourites Ulster, lead by Daryl Strong, who is yet to be beaten in this event, were full value for their billing with straightforward victories over Connacht and Munster, following their closely contested but ultimately straightforward win over Leinster.

The Senior Championships again saw a favoured Ulster team, lead by Zak Wilson and Sophie Earley, confirm their status with a 6-3 win over Leinster in the first round, followed by victories against Connacht and Munster, with Leinster finishing in 2nd position.  Unfortunately, the Senior Championships concluded prematurely following a player being taken ill in the hall, and great credit is due to the UCD Staff and the table tennis volunteers involved in providing resuscitation and treatment, in advance of the arrival of paramedics. With the early termination of the event, the presentation ceremony did not take place as planned, out of respect for the circumstances.

The Tommy Caffrey Award for Player of the Tournament was shared on this occasion, awarded to Gillian Richardson from the Ulster Veterans team, and Dillon Byrne from the Leinster Senior team, both players with excellent wins against higher ranked opposition.

The overall Junior Championships title looked likely to be a fight between Ulster and Leinster, albeit that Munster were very much in the picture in Cadet Girls and Junior Girls, while a dangerous Connacht team had every chance in the Mini Cadet Girls category.  Despite a huge fight from the Munster Junior Girls in the 2nd round, Ulster, lead in typical battling fashion by Sophie Earley, managed to come through on a 5-4 scoreline, a result which decided the Junior Girls top 2.  In Mini Cadet Girls, Ulster also battled through for the gold, their toughest match coming against Connacht, despite the best efforts of Rachel Taylor in claiming 3 points for the Connacht team.  However, Ulster were unable to claim a clean sweep of girls titles, with a Silke Heinen lead Munster taking the Cadet Girls title.

In the boys events, it was always looking like it would be a shootout between Leinster and Ulster in all three boys categories, albeit that Munster had a good young team in Mini Cadet, who put it up to the other provinces, while Connacht would count themselves unlucky in going down 5-4 to Ulster in the Junior Boys.  The final round of matches in all three boys events would decide the title, with both Leinster and Ulster unbeaten, and it was Leinster who took the Mini Cadet Boys gold, with Gellert Moravcsik and Fionn Hickey going unbeaten, followed shortly afterwards by the Junior Boys with a win for Leinster, Art McLaughlin and Alan Pattison also going unbeaten.

The Cadet Boys event was still going, and would decide the destination of the Barna Shield, with Leinster and Ulster very evenly matched.  However, with Dillon Byrne remaining unbeaten in the Cadet event, Leinster closed out the win with the final match of the Championships.

With Number 1 ranked players remaining unbeaten in almost every category, there were a wide number of candidates for the Colum Slevin Award for Player of the Championships, however it was Maitiu Heckmann from Leinster who took the Award, following his performance in the match that proved decisive both for Cadet Boys gold as well as the overall Shield.

With three gold medals to Leinster, ahead of two for Ulster and one for Munster, Leinster took the Victor Barna Shield for the overall Junior Interprovincial title.

Thanks to the Referees and Umpires for their time and efforts at the event, as well as to our aforementioned volunteers and UCD Staff for their response to the emergency in the hall.  Special thanks to the volunteers from the Connacht and Leinster Branches who assisted with hall cleanup and clearance at the end of the event.

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Report on Joola Junior & Senior Closed National Championships

Pictured are Owen Cathcart (Men’s Singles Champion), Ken Strong (President) and Sophie Earley (Ladies Singles Champion)

The Irish National Championships, supported by Joola, took place in Lisburn 1-3 March 2019.  There were 18 National titles on offer, with keen competition and an open field in many of the categories.

The Ladies Singles for the Ladies Limberg Cup began on Friday night, continuing on Saturday, however it was no real surprise that the event boiled down to the top two seeds, defending Champion Mia O’Rahilly-Egan (Griffeen Valley) and up and coming cadet Sophie Earley (Ormeau).  Youth won out over experience, as Earley took a first Senior National title ahead of O’Rahilly-Egan, Zofia Wawrzyniak (Leeside) and Rebecca Finn (Glenburn) finishing as bronze medallists.  Ladies Doubles National Champions are O’Rahilly-Egan & Wawrzyniak, who overcame the challenge of Sabina Devereux (Wexford) and Claire Heller (Dun Laoire).

Unfortunately for the Dublin girl, it was the same story in the U21 Ladies, as Earley again held firm to take the National U21 Ladies Champion title ahead of O’Rahilly-Egan.  Earley became the first winner of the new U21 National Shield named in honour of Pat O’Brien, and which will also have all past winners names engraved on it.

The Junior Girls National Champion title also went the way of young Earley, with O’Rahilly-Egan again, despite a tight 3-2 match, on the wrong end of the scoreline, with Pravesha Ragi (Loop) and Lucy Craig (Glenburn) earning bronze.  Ragi teamed up with Silke Heinen (Leeside) to take the National Junior Girls Doubles Champion title ahead of Lucy Craig and Lucy Johnston (both Glenburn).

In the Cadet Girls, surprise finalist Lucy McIvor (Ormeau) was unable to get past the solid control and defence of Silke Heinen, as the Cork girl took her first Cadet Girls National Champion title, Ragi and Nicole Larmour (Banbridge) taking bronze.  Cadet Doubles went the same way as the Junior Doubles title, as Heinen and Ragi teamed up again, taking the National title ahead of Anna Kelly and Lucy McIvor (both Ormeau).

Mini Cadet Girls saw Emily Flynn(Unattached) emerge as Mini Cadet Girls National Champion ahead of Rachel Taylor (Bunninadden), bronze medallists Anjali Singh (Ormeau) and Ruta Miliute(Bunninadden).

The Mens Singles also saw a new name on the Mens Limberg Cup, with Owen Cathcart (Ormeau) travelling home from full time training in Sweden to take the win in what was also his first Senior final.  Cathcart became the first player to complete the set of the male singles titles – Mini Cadet, Cadet, Junior and Senior – since the Junior National Championships were restarted in 2005.  An exciting final saw Cathcart off to an early lead against defending Champion Gavin Maguire(UCD/Dublin), with a fightback from Maguire not enough to threaten seriously in the match.  Bronze medallists were Thomas Earley (Ormeau) and Zak Wilson (Glenburn).  Maguire and Alex Gillen (UCD/Dublin) teamed up to take the Mens Doubles, Maguire retaining his title, ahead of Ryan Farrell (DCU) and Wilson.

Even while the Mens Singles final was on, much of the drama in the hall was centred on the U21 Mens Final, where Wilson was seeking to reclaim the title he won in 2016 and 2017, while Tom Davis (UCD/Dublin) was desperately seeking to retain his 2018 crown, and become the first winner of the new U21 Shield, named in honour of Tony Martin.  Davis and Wilson displayed all of their renowned battling abilities, however it was Davis who emerged victorious on a 3-2 scoreline, Thomas Earley and Alex Gillen earning bronze.

The Junior Boys was perhaps the only event where the winner could have come from almost anywhere, with danger right down the Top 8 seedings and even beyond.  In the end however it was a repeat of last years Junior Boys final, with Alan Pattison (UCD/Dublin) emerging as National Junior Champion ahead of defending Champion (Art McLaughlin (UCD/Dublin) on a 3-2 scoreline, with Kristijonas Dapkus (Bunninadden) and Conor Nugent (Ormeau) finishing in bronze.  Junior Doubles saw McLaughlin and Dillon Byrne (UCD/Dublin) reprise their Champion Cadet pairing from 2018 to take the title ahead of Dapkus and David Taylor (Bunninadden).

Cadet Boys saw surprises and upsets across the draw, with the one constant being eventual Champion Dillon Byrne who took the National Cadet Champion title against clubmate and surprise finalist Maitiu Heckmann (UCD/Dublin), with Tom Colvin (Craigavon) and Joe Sheard (Craigavon) taking the bronze.  In Cadet Doubles, Byrne & Heckmann teamed up to take the National title ahead of Jonathan Mooney & Max Skelton (both Ormeau), Byrne defending his title from 2018.

In Mini Cadet, Gellert Moravcsik went unbeaten for the season at this level, winning 5 tournaments from 5, taking the Mini Cadet National Champion title ahead of silver medallist Tom Irwin (Dungannon), bronze medallists Fionn Hickey (UCD/Dublin) and Ben Watson (Ormeau).

The Veterans title went to Daryl Strong ahead of long time team mate Phil Wallace (both Ormeau), while the Restricted Singles title went to Rodney McKirgan (Dungannon) ahead of James Magrath (Glenburn).

Finally, the Mixed Doubles National Championship went the way of defending Champion Gavin Maguire, who teamed up with Sophie Earley, defeating Alex Gillen and Mia O’Rahilly Egan.

Please click HERE for the full list of results.

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UCD record 20th consecutive Intervarsity victory

2019 Wine Cup Champions UCD

UCD were the major winners at the Irish Universities Championships, held in Galway 15/16 February 2019, taking three out of four titles, including an incredible 20th consecutive Mens Team title for the Irish Universities Hubert Wine Cup.  Competition for the Wine Cup began in 1949, with Trinity College boasting the next longest winning streak, from 1949-1956.  Queens, UCC, Trinity and UCD have been the main challengers in the event over the 70 years, however the current dominance at Intervarsity level of UCD at is probably without equal in any sport in Ireland.

There was a host of current and former Interprovincial and International players spread across almost all the teams in both Mens and Ladies, with Varsity table tennis at its strongest level in many years.  However, in the Mens Team event, it was the strength in depth of UCD that told, with current and former junior and senior internationals playing at #1-5 in the UCD team, with an interprovincial at #6.  UCD accounted for DIT, NUI Galway and Trinity en route to the final, where they overpowered a strong University of Limerick team on an 8-1 scoreline.

In the Ladies Team event, UCD were also defending Champions, with former National Champions Katie McGlone and Hannah Lynch Dawson playing at the top of the team.  Experience again told, with the UCD team sweeping through the event with straight 6-0 victories over Sligo, UCC and NUI Galway.

It was McGlone and Lynch Dawson who also lead the way in the singles event, overcoming the semi-final challenges of Mair Kelly (UCC) and Amanda Taylor (NUIG), to face off in an all UCD final where McGlone took the Ladies title on a 3-0 scoreline ahead of defending Ladies Champion Lynch Dawson.

The Mens Singles saw UCD take four out of the eight quarter final positions, with Ryan Farrell (DCU), Brian Dunleavy (UL), Conor Beades (TCD) and Wei Xu (NUIG) joining the UCD quartet of Sasha Gillen, Tom Davis, Joey Nelson and Luke Dempsey.  Seeding held true, with the top 4 seeds coming through to the semi-finals, and the top two seeds reaching the final, Gillen defeating Nelson in the semi-final, while top seed and defending Champion Farrell also reached the decider, although not without a huge semi-final against Davis that saw both players save match points, before the match was decided 14-12 in the 5th set.  The battle of the scholarship students saw Farrell settle quickest in the final, taking the Mens Singles title for the second time, on a 3-1 scoreline.

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Robinson’s Ice Cream Ulster Open Report and Results

Ulster Open Table Tennis triple winner Gavin Maguire (right) from UCD sharing one of his 3 Awards, with Doubles partner Connor Gallagher (left) along with sponsor Jimmy Robinson and Lisburn Mayor Councillor Uel Mackin.

Sophie Earley (Ormeau), aged 12 years, became the youngest ever Ulster Open Table Tennis Women’s Champion, adding the Senior Girls title for an unprecedented double! The Ulster Women’s Trophy was a notable victory, defeating the highly rated 16 year old O’Rahally-Egan (Griffen Valley) in both Women’s and Girls finals, while entertaining an appreciate audience.

Gavin Maguire (UCD) added the Ulster Men’s Trophy for the first time to his bulging trophy cabinet, and crowned his day with a title hat trick. The Irish Champion defeated Ulster’s Zak Wilson (Glenburn) in a fast-flowing Men’s final, and added Doubles’ Titles with Conor Gallagher (Men’s) and Mia O’Rahally-Egan (Mixed).

The 2-day Lisburn Rackets Club event, supported by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Robinsons Ice Cream, had over 150 competitors. Jimmy Robinson (Craigavon), a former international player over 7 years, had taken Ulster Doubles titles in his heyday, and was delighted to be joint sponsor through his Robinson Ice Cream business.

Robinson Ice Cream Ulster Open Results:

Men’s singles: 1. G Maguire; 2. Z Wilson; 3= T Earley and N Cameron (Scotland)

Women’s Singles: 1 S Earley; 2 M O’Rahally-Egan; 3= R Finn and Z Wawrzyniak

Masters: 1. A Robson; 2 P Owusu

Men’s Doubles: 1. Maguire/Gallagher; 2. N Cameron/R Farrell

Women’s Doubles: 1. TL Cashman/N Scott; 2. M O’Rahally-Egan/Z Wawrzyniak

Mixed Doublers: 1. Maguire/O’Rahally-Egan; 2. Z Wilson/R Finn

Under 21 Men’s: 1. Z Wilson; 2 T Earley

Under 21 Women’s: 1. M O’Rahally-Egan; 2. Z Wawrzyniak

U18 Boys: 1. A Pattison; 2 A McLaughlin

U18 Girls: 1. S Earley; 2. M O’Rahally-Egan

Restricted Singles: 1. M McAllister; 2. P Owusu

U15 Boys: 1 D Byrne; 2 J Skelton

U15 Girls: 1. S Heinen; 2. P Ragi

U13 Boys: 1. G Moravcsik; 2. F Hickey

U13 Girls: 1. E Flynn; 2 R Taylor

Hopes Boys: D McFaul; Hopes Girls: A McDonnell

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Women in Sport event a success in Connacht!

Table Tennis Ireland had its 2nd Women in Sport Event on Wednesday 31st October.  It was a great day in Bunninadden Community Centre, hosted by Bunninadden Table Tennis Club in conjunction with Table Tennis Ireland and Connacht Table Tennis Branch.  Jing Yi was delighted to meet all enthusiastic table tennis players.  She has received great support from the club coaches, organisers in the Branch and South Sligo Partnership officers.  Further arrangements have been made to help develop the sport in the province.

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TREBLES FOR GAVIN, MIA & ART AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS! MIA IS NEW WOMEN’S CHAMPION!

Saturday play started  with the Cadet Boys & Girls Singles Groups as well as the Restricted Singles. 

In the Cadet Girls the semi finalists were Pravesha Ragi, Nicole Scott, Nicole Larmour and Silke Heinen with Pravesha and Silke advancing to the final. Pravesha won  3/0 to become U15 National Champion. 

Pravesha and Silke joined forces to win the Cadet Doubles beating the 2 Nicoles in the final.

The Cadet Boys event saw Art McLaughlin, Ciaran O Donoghue, Thomas Joyce and James Skelton reach the semi finals.

Art lost the first set to Ciaran but bounced back to take a 3/1 victory. In the other semi James beat Thomas 3/2 in a closely fought encounter.

In the final  Art won the first set 11/7, James the second 11/9, before Art recovered to win the next 2 sets 11/8, 11/7 to claim a 3/1 victory and win his first National Singles title.

Earlier Art combined with clubmate Dillon Byrne to win the Cadet Boys Doubles final versus James Skelton and Julian Kelly.

The U21 Singles events saw Claire Heller beat Mia O’Rahilly Egan 3/1 in the final. and Tom Davis win 3/2 against clubmate Alan Pattison.

In the  Senior Women’s Singles  Mia, Sabina Devereux, Claire Heller and Pravesha won through  to the semi finals on Sunday. In the Senior Menstwo time winner Gavin Maguire had a mighty battle to get past Daryl Strong in the last 16 before prevailing in the 5th set. Similarly top seed Ashley Robinson had a hard fought match at the same stage v Phil Jamieson who had set points in the fourth set to bring the match into a decider- Ashley winning the set 15/13 and the match 3/1.

The Under 11 Boys and Girls events saw good entries in both and was played in a fun atmosphere with all entrants receiving a medal.

Saturday’s play concluded with the finals of the Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

Gavin and Ashley combined to win the Mens while Gavin and Mia won the mixed with a 3/2 victory over Tibor and Sabina.

Sunday started with the U18 and U13 events .

In the Under 18 Boys Singles there were some surprises. However the last four was made up of Art, Thomas, Alan Pattison and Joey Nelson.

Art played impressively to beat Thomas 3/0 while Alan won against clubmate Joey to set up an all Dublin TTC final .

Art continued his rich vein of form to win his second National Singles  title of the weekend with a 3/1 victory.

In the Under 18 Girls Singles  Mia, Thuy Linh Cashman, Nicole Scott and Zofia Wawrzyniak were the semi finalists. Both semi finals were close battles. Mia saved match point in the final set before winning it 13/11 and the match 3/2 v Thuy Linh.

In the other semi Zofia raced out to a 2/0 lead v Nicole. Nicole fought back to make it 2/2(saving match points in the 4th) before Zofia came through with an 11/4 win in the 5th set.

In the final Zofia won the first two sets 11/4, 13/11. Mia showed her fighting spirit in sets 3 and 4 to take the match to a decider which she won 11/3 to become Junior National Champion for a second time.

The Junior Boys Doubles winners were  Alan and Joey while the scratch pairing of Nicole Scott and Thuy Linh combined very effectively to win the Junior Girls Doubles title.

The U13 Boys Singles saw Ormeau’s Max Skelton overcome his clubmate Jonathan Mooney while in the U13 Girls Singles event Isabel O Sullivan beat Anna Kelly.

Both Womens Singles semi finals went the distance,  decided in the 7th set with identical 11/9 scores: Mia winning v Sabina and Pravesha coming through v Claire so Mia and Pravesha would meet for the 3rd time over the weekend.

The final saw Pravesha get off to the quicker start and lead 2/1 before Mia levelled taking the 4th set 11/4. Mia won the next two sets 11/9 and in doing so claimed her first Senior National Title and her second title of the weekend.

On the Mens side Ashley and Gavin came through with wins over Ryan Farrell and Zak Wilson respectively.  The first set of the final was nip and tuck with Gavin winning it 15/13 and he  went onto claim his third Singles National Title with a 3/1 victory.

In the Ladies Doubles final on Sunday Pravesha and Silke beat Claire and Sabina.

The Para Final saw Paddy Vaughan win against Colin Judge and the Para 11 Final was won by Matthew Collins who beat Niamh Cafferky. In the Masters Singles, Tibor Devereux beat Brian Devereux  while the Restricted Singles Final saw Phil Jamieson take the title over Kevin Mackey.

Thanks to Con O’Ceadaigh, Tony Martin, Maria Maume, Stuart McConkey and all the Umpires and Dublin TTC for the hall set up and take down.